One Tuesday night during the 2015 football season, I sat hunched over my computer studying intensely, but I wasn’t reviewing for my upcoming chemistry test. I was studying something far more important: my fantasy football lineup.

I carefully analyzed various statistics and matchups, contemplating which players to put in my fantasy football lineup. After experimenting with several combinations, my lineup was nearly perfect, but I wasn’t completely satisfied.

One player stuck out: Cam Newton. He was a top tier NFL quarterback, the saving grace of my otherwise mediocre team. But that week, his team, the Carolina Panthers, was facing my favorite team, the Green Bay Packers.

I had reservations about keeping Newton in my lineup. Was an insignificant fantasy football victory worth rooting against my favorite team?

After careful deliberation, I kept Newton in my lineup.

Hopefully, the perfect scenario would play out: Newton would have a great game, leading my fantasy football team to victory all while the Panthers fell short of a victory against the Packers.

As I watched the game that Sunday night, I found it impossible to choose between the success of my fantasy team or the success of the Packers. Whenever Newton threw a touchdown, it came at the expense of the Packers. When the Packers forced a Cam Newton turnover, my fantasy team was pushed farther from victory. While my family was unconditionally cheering on the Packers, I was stuck between upholding my allegiances or betraying the team I love.

After the game, I logged onto my fantasy football account. Newton had played great, scoring the most points on my team, leading my struggling fantasy football team to victory.

This clash between my NFL allegiance and my fantasy football game continually ruined the football season for me. I severed my allegiances by rooting against my favorite NFL team in exchange for an insignificant victory for my fantasy team. Despite all the game planning and passion I put into creating a successful fantasy football team, none of it was real. In fact, it’s exactly what the name entails. Fantasy.

These conflicting interests sapped the enjoyment out of watching the Packers’ game and have led me to step away from fantasy football.

Without the burden and stress that fantasy football consistently brought to game day, I have been able to enjoy the Packers’ season much more this year.

While many football fans are stressing over the success of their fantasy football teams, I’ll be unconditionally supporting my favorite real NFL franchise, no matter what team is on the other side of the scoreboard.